Legal Marijuana Isn't 'Public Enemy Number One,' But It Is Complicated

A premise: Never in American history has the hypocrisy of the nation's stance on substances that affect our behavior been so apparent as it was Wednesday morning.

Two days ago, untold numbers awoke with the mother of all hangovers, expected but unwelcomed remnants of their alcohol-fueled New Year's Eve revelry. It had the news value of another sunrise.

That same morning, people in Colorado lined up, in the cold and snow, to be the first to legally buy marijuana for recreational use in this country. Unlike our Jan. 1 hangover epidemic, the pot sales drew national media attention. Which example bothers you more? Alcohol affects people - their bodies, their moods, their behaviors, their lives. It creates "mean" drunks and "sloppy" drunks. It's embedded in criminal statistics. When overused, it destroys families and marriages and, at its worst, it kills. But it is legal and socially acceptable in most circles.

[continues 617 words]